Is there a limit to how many cars per train?

[SleeperN06]

Thanks Bob, wow that interesting. I’m still learning stuff every day.  

[JamesP]

A limit to how many cars you can pull?  If you have enough tractive effort and the cars don't stringline, you can do this:

 

watch?v=U96L1YcuI4o

 

I was testing the pulling power of my windup Triplex, but didn't have enough cars or a long enough track to find its limits.  One more car and the caboose was up against the pilot of the locomotive.  That is the only time I ran a train that long, although I do occasionally run trains that go halfway around the track.

 - James 

[gunrunnerjohn]

SleeperN06

I’m a little embarrassed to ask because I don’t have any idea, but can you have more than one powered O-scale loco in a consist?

I have them in N-scale and I've never heard of it in O-scale.

I bought a second Legacy U28C "U-Boat" specifically to run double headed.  For command operation under O-gauge, both TMCC/Legacy and DCS have extensive capability to run multiple units together.  The most I've tried is four powered units, but I didn't have enough track for cars to justify the motive power.

[RockIsland52]

Dave632

 I have trouble with pulling the cars right off the track with 036 curves, especially multiple curves. The 054 is more forgiving however.

Dave.......one thing you might try if you have not done so already is to move the heaviest cars in order of weight to the front of the consist and the lightest toward the rear.  That should help things.  Some of my son's "all plastic" cars from a later model starter set are just too light. 

Also, make sure all of the coupler arms and truck pivots on the cars all move freely and easily.    

Jack

[SteveC]

My biggest train was a few Christmas's ago when we ran a 76 car train around a bid dog bone layour around two trees in the living room.  I used 0-27 profile track in 72" radious at one end and 54" radious at the other.  I used 5 MPC era diesel locomotives, with three on the point and two more 40 cars back.  I ran it with two 1033 transformers and didn't have any issue with derailments.  The biggest problem was the knuckle's opening on some of the cars.  These were all MPC and newer cars as they pull much easier than my post war cars.  I do run a 18 car unit train of Sunoco tank cars and also unit trains of the Lehigh Valley coal hoppers that is also 18 cars.  I can pull them with a good 675, but you have to make sure you oil the axles of the cars or it is too hard on the locomotive.  A 2046 or 2055 with Magna traction is just slightly better than the 675.

Steve

[M10000]

For MTH Rail King Santa Fe Northern no. 2927 (30-1465-1) the limit appears to be 10 or fewer Rail King passenger cars.  While I have operated the engine with 11 Rail King passenger cars, it will not operate consistently with 11.  It will shut down.  It is able to easily move out and pull 11 cars. I am told that when the engine is shutting down due to the load being pulled it could harm the motor.  So I am restricting it to a maximum of a 10 car Chief.

 

watch?v=I4GEMcgTjxs

[M10000]

While my first generation Rail King Chesapeake and Ohio Berkshire no. 2744 can pull 11 Rail King cars without any problems and started right up after about 10 years in storage.

 

watch?v=isz9uGu4ABM

 

watch?v=k0s5guSYhQM